Iran says it has not yet made a decision on talks in Pakistan

US delegation’s departure for Iran talks in Pakistan delayed for 'policy meetings'

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Tuesday that a formal response from the Iranian side regarding the confirmation of the delegation to attend the Islamabad "Peace Talks" was still awaited.

In a post on X, Tarar mentioned that Pakistan, as the mediator, was in constant touch with Iran and was pursuing the path of diplomacy and dialogue.

"The ceasefire ends at 4:50am PST on April 22, and a decision from Iran to attend the talks before the end of the two-week ceasefire is critical," he said.

Tarar further stated that Pakistan had made sincere efforts to convince the Iranian leadership to participate in the second round of talks, and these efforts were ongoing.

The situation as it stands at 1930 PST

1. Formal response from Iranian side about confirmation of delegation to attend Islamabad Peace Talks is still awaited.

2. ⁠Pakistan as the mediator is in constant touch with Iranians and pursuing the path of diplomacy and dialogue.

3.…

— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) April 21, 2026

Shortly after, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told state TV that the country had not yet made a decision to attend talks with the US in Pakistan.

"US moves against two Iranian vessels amounted to 'piracy at sea and state terrorism'," Baghaei told state TV.

At the same time, the US delegation’s planned departure for Pakistan for the second round of face-to-face talks with Iran was delayed due to “additional policy meetings” in Washington, according to US media reports.

Vice President JD Vance, who is expected to travel to Islamabad, remained in Washington to attend the meetings at the White House, said a US official, according to The New York Times.

A White House official cited by The Washington Post said the departure was postponed for “additional policy meetings” involving Vance, without specifying a new timeline.

Trump says he does not want to extend ceasefire, predicts 'great deal' with Iran

United States President Donald Trump told CNBC in an interview that he did not want to extend a ceasefire with Iran.

He asserted that the US was in a strong negotiating position and would end up with what he called a great deal.

"I don't want to do that. We don't have that much time," Trump said when asked about the possibility of extending the ceasefire.

He said that the US would resume its attacks on Iran if a deal was not struck with Tehran soon.

"I expect to be bombing because I think that's a better attitude to go in with. But we're ready to go. I mean, the military is raring to go," he said.

The prospect of last-ditch peace talks in Islamabad remains up in the air, with uncertainty over whether Iran will send a delegation.

Washington has expressed confidence that talks with Iran will go ahead in Pakistan, and a senior Iranian official said Tehran was considering joining.

Trump earlier blamed Iran for ceasefire violations amid uncertainty over peace talks. 'Iran has violated the ceasefire numerous times,' Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116442383515973098

Meanwhile, US forces boarded a sanctioned tanker without incident in the Indo-Pacific region as part of its efforts to disrupt vessels providing support to Iran, the Pentagon said in a post on X.

"Overnight, US forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the stateless sanctioned M/T Tifani without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility,"
it said.

The Pentagon further stated that, as previously made clear, the US would pursue global maritime enforcement efforts to disrupt illicit networks and intercept sanctioned vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate.

"International waters will not serve as a refuge for sanctioned vessels. The Department of Defence will continue to prevent illicit actors and their vessels from operating freely in the maritime domain," said the statement.

Overnight, U.S. forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the stateless sanctioned M/T Tifani without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.⁰⁰As we have made clear, we will pursue global maritime enforcement efforts to disrupt illicit… pic.twitter.com/EGwDe3dBI3

— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) April 21, 2026

US positive on Iran deal but talks still uncertain as ceasefire end nears

The United States expressed confidence that peace talks with Iran would go ahead in Pakistan and a senior Iranian official said Tehran was considering joining, but significant hurdles and uncertainty remained ​as the end of a ceasefire approached.

US President Donald Trump wants an agreement that would prevent further oil price rises and stock market shocks but has insisted Iran cannot have the ‌means to develop a nuclear weapon. Tehran hopes to leverage its control of the Strait of Hormuz to strike a deal that averts a restart of the war, eases sanctions, but does not impede its nuclear program.

The Iranian official, speaking to Reuters, said Tehran was "positively reviewing" its participation in talks, despite earlier ruling them out, but stressed no decision had been made.

Officials in Islamabad caution that the situation remains fluid amid heated rhetoric from both Washington and Tehran. According to people familiar with the plans, Vice President Vance is expected to depart Washington on Tuesday.

Read: Pakistan steps up efforts to salvage talks

The second round of negotiations is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday (tomorrow), they said. However, the White House has not formally confirmed the timing but has indicated that the delegation is expected to travel soon.

"Things are moving forward, and the talks are on track for tomorrow," the source said on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity.

No Iranian delegation has travelled yet for 2nd Islamabad talks, Iran state TV says

No Iranian delegation has travelled to Pakistan so far to hold another round of talks with the US, Iran’s state-run broadcaster IRIB reported on Tuesday.

“So far, no Iranian delegation has travelled to Islamabad, Pakistan—neither the main delegation nor any subsidiary, primary, or secondary delegation,” the broadcaster said.

IRIB added that multiple media reports that an Iranian delegation would travel to Pakistan or that talks were scheduled for Monday evening or Tuesday morning “were untrue.”

The report also cited Iranian officials’ remarks from Sunday evening, indicating that “continuing participation in talks depends on changes in the behavior of the Americans” and that Tehran rejects negotiations “under the shadow of threats.”

Iran says tanker managed to bypass US blockade

Iran’s army said on Tuesday an Iranian tanker managed to enter the country’s territorial waters last night, despite repeated “threats” from the US military, according to Al Jazeera.

“Despite multiple warnings and threats from the naval task force of the U.S. Army … the Iranian oil tanker Sili City, with the operational support of the Army Navy … entered Iranian territorial waters last night after passing through the Arabian Sea,” the army’s public relations office said in a statement relayed by Iran’s Mehr News Agency.

The tanker “has been stationed for several hours at one of the anchorages of the southern ports of the Islamic Republic of Iran”, continued the statement.

Iranian Foreign Ministry condemns US seizure of cargo ship in Gulf of Oman

Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned the recent seizure by US forces of a cargo ship allegedly attempting to evade a blockade on Iranian ports.

Iran's Foreign Ministry issues statement condemning US attack on commercial vessel and abduction of crew and families:

🔺 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns the “criminal and illegal” attack by the United States on the Iranian…

— Mehr News Agency (@MehrnewsCom) April 21, 2026

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns the unlawful and violent action of the US ‘terrorist army’ in attacking the Iranian commercial vessel ‘Touska,’ which took place on Sunday,” the ministry said in a statement.

Calling the incident a “form of maritime piracy and a terrorist act,” the statement said it violated international law, as well as a two-week ceasefire with the US that began on April 7.

It demanded the release of the Iranian-flagged vessel as well as its crew and their families.

“Without doubt, the Islamic Republic of Iran will use all its capacities to defend its national interests and security, and to safeguard the rights and dignity of Iranians,” it said, asserting that responsibility for “further escalation” would rest with the US.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Sunday that US naval forces seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman after it reportedly refused to comply with blockade directions.

CENTCOM said on Monday that American forces have directed 27 commercial vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port since the naval blockade of Iranian ports began on April 13.

Since the commencement of the blockade against ships entering or exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas, U.S. forces have directed 27 vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port. pic.twitter.com/G8dl96wN4H

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 20, 2026

 

The commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters says that Iran’s armed forces are ready to deliver decisive and immediate responses to enemy threats and violations, according to Mehr News Agency.

Israeli forces fire artillery, level homes in southern Lebanon

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported several new Israeli attacks in the south of Lebanon despite an ongoing ceasefire, according to Al Jazeera.

The NNA said Israeli forces fired artillery near the town of Kounin in Bint Jbeil district. It also reported a series of Israeli demolitions across the south, targeting homes, buildings and other infrastructure, Al Jazeera said.

The report added that Israeli forces “booby-trapped” numerous homes in the villages of Beit Lif, Shamaa, Bayada, and Naqoura, levelling them.

Trump says recovery of Iran's enriched uranium will require 'long and difficult process'

US President Donald Trump said Monday that taking Iran's enriched uranium stockpile will require a "long and difficult process."

"Operation Midnight Hammer was a complete and total obliteration of the Nuclear Dust sites in Iran," Trump said, referring to the June 2025 strikes he ordered on Iran's nuclear facilities. The US president has long maintained that the attacks "obliterated" Iran's nuclear program, and has recently referred to the uranium stockpile as "dust."

"Therefore, digging it out will be a long and difficult process," he added.

Oil price down on talks optimism

Oil prices ​fell, and stocks bounced back in early trading in Asia on Tuesday on the expectation that US-Iran peace talks will resume this week, after earlier meetings in Islamabad broke ⁠down without an agreement. Oil prices had jumped around 6% in Monday trading on doubts over the talks.

Brent crude futures declined 54 cents, or 0.6%, to $94.94 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate for May fell $1.11, or ​1.2%, to $88.50.

But tensions remained high, with Iran's foreign ministry on Tuesday condemning the United States for what it called an attack on the Iranian commercial vessel Touska at the weekend, demanding the immediate release of the vessel, its ​crew and their families.

"Iran would use all its capabilities to defend its national interests and security and protect the rights and dignity of its citizens... the United States would bear full responsibility for any further escalation in the region," it said, according to Iranian state media.

Read more: New Iran deal 'far better' than Obama nuclear deal, coming 'relatively quickly': Trump

Maritime security sources said on Monday the vessel was likely to have what Washington deems dual-use items that could be used by the military onboard. The US Central Command said Touska's crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over six hours, and the vessel violated the US blockade.

China, the main buyer of Iranian crude, has expressed concern over the "forced interception".

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had on Monday said truce violations by Washington were a major obstacle ​to the diplomatic process, while top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused Trump on X of increasing pressure through a blockade of Iran's ports.

He said Trump was deluded in seeking to "turn the negotiating table into a table of submission", adding Iran ‌rejects negotiations ⁠under threat.

ترامپ با اعمال محاصره و نقض آتش‌بس می‌خواهد تا به خیال خود این میز مذاکره را به میز تسلیم تبدیل کند یا جنگ‌افروزی مجدد را موجّه سازد.
مذاکره زیر سایهٔ تهدید را نمی‌پذیریم و در دو هفتهٔ اخیر برای رو کردن کارت‌های جدید در میدان نبرد آماده شده‌ایم.

— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) April 20, 2026

'They're going to negotiate,' Trump says

Thousands of people have been killed by US-Israeli strikes on Iran and in an Israeli invasion of Lebanon conducted in parallel since the war began on February 28. The war triggered a historic shock to global energy supplies and fears that prolonged conflict could push the global economy to the brink of recession.

The US has maintained its blockade of Iranian ports. At the same time, Iran lifted and then soon reimposed its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which typically handles roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supply. Mediator Pakistan has lobbied for Washington to end its blockade.

Trump, on the John Fredericks Media Network ​on Monday, said Iran would negotiate but reiterated Washington ​would not allow Tehran to develop a nuclear ⁠weapon

"They're going to negotiate, and hopefully they'll make a fair deal, and they'll build their country back up, but they will not have - when they do it - they will not have a nuclear weapon," Trump said.

The United States has not specified when the two-week ceasefire will end. A Pakistani source involved in the talks said it ​would expire at 8pm Eastern time on Wednesday, or midnight GMT or 3:30am Thursday in Iran.

Pakistan preparing for talks

Pakistan has set the stage for a high-stakes second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, likely to take place just hours before a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire expires on Wednesday.

Despite lingering uncertainty surrounding 'Islamabad Round 2' due to Iran's reluctance to formally confirm its participation, a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance is set to travel to the federal capital along with senior officials.

Also read: China says ‘concerned’ over US intercepting Iranian ship in Strait of Hormuz

There was some ambiguity about Vance's whereabouts, as President Donald Trump told the New York Post that Vance was already on his way to Islamabad, but White House officials said the vice president would depart on Tuesday, with talks expected on Wednesday.

While there was confusion over the exact timing of arrival, there was certainty that the US delegation would be coming. Iran, however, has maintained public suspense, even though developments on the ground in Islamabad suggest a different trajectory.

Even hours after the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tehran had not yet decided whether to join the talks, US military aircraft were seen landing at Nur Khan Airbase, indicating that preparations were moving ahead regardless of the public posture.

Since the beginning of the war, over 137,000 civilian units across Iran have been damaged during the imposed war, with residential and commercial properties bearing the brunt of the destruction, according to Tasnim news agency.